An instructional video on the haka Ko Wairarapa (It is Wairarapa) has been uploaded to You Tube by Masterton Intermediate School for other schools and people who want to join an attempt to set a world record for the most people to perform a haka at the same time.
Masterton Intermediate School has released an instructional video of the Maori war dance that up to 5000 students and supporters are expected to stage in a world record bid later this year for the most people to perform a haka at the same time.
Principal Russell Thompson said the MIS
haka titled Ko Wairarapa, written by parent Paora Ammunson, will be performed for the Guinness World Records bid at Memorial Park in Masterton from noon on September 8.
"We are hoping that as many people as possible, including all of our MIS students and staff, will meet at Memorial Park to perform Ko Wairarapa."
The school had set a target for the haka of 5000 people, which would easily eclipse the standing record of 4028, which was set at the Stade Amedee-Domenech in France on September 27, 2014, beating the previous record of 3264 set in New Zealand in 2008.
The 11-minute instructional video includes an outline from its composer of the history and meaning of the haka, and MIS students demonstrating two versions of the war dance for older and younger learners that includes a breakdown of each section.
